The basic idea is this: I am looking for someone to host my "dot name"
e-mail account (firstname@lastname.name).
Before I go into the details, let me make clear that I am not
interested in a big list of "potential" hosts. All I need is a small
list of hosts that meet my requirements. I insist that the person
researching this has a THOROUGH understanding of how hosting works,
who provides what services, how you know what you?re paying for, and
how to decode the advertised deals that webhosting services list. Any
kind of generic list is unacceptable.
Even though this question is on the long side, if you understand the
business of registrars and hosts this could be a really easy question.
Other than providing the list of hosts, you MUST answer the three
numbered questions below, but I will tip if your answers to them are
really clear. I will also tip if the information leads me to sign up
with a host that you suggest.
MY CURRENT SITUATION
A while back, I paid $95 for the 5-year registration of my "dot name"
domain. Every year, I pay $20 for this domain to be hosted. I do all
of this through Network Solutions, which I guess makes them my
registrar and my host. From what I can understand, the $95 bought me
the rights to the domain so that nobody else can use it. The $20 gives
me storage space for e-mails, as well as the right to use a webmail
interface to access my e-mail. I also seem to control the website
www.firstname.lastname.name, though I don?t currently do anything with
it.
WHAT I WANT
The $95 is already paid, so I?m not worried about that part. However,
the $20/year does not really get me what I want. It gives me plenty of
storage (500 MB), but I don?t need it because that e-mail is
automatically forwarded to another account. What I really want is a
host that has a POP3 server that I can download my mail from, and a
SMTP server that I can send my mail through.
Important question (#1): Am I correct in saying that I need a new
"host" but not a new "registrar" (because I already have Network
Solutions)? Or are they really the same, and if I switch "hosts" I
will also be switching "registrars"?
Regardless of terminology, here is what I?m looking for in a new
"host" (or whatever):
- They must have POP3 and SMTP servers that I can send and receive e-mail through.
- I must be able to use firstname@lastname.name as my return e-mail
address. (I run another website that has an SMTP server that I can
use, but they won?t let me send mail through it that has a return
address other than that domain?s address.)
- It should have a decent amount of storage, maybe 50 MB? (this part
is flexible, but more is better)
- It must have a webmail interface.
- It must be less than $40 US per year, though I can pre-pay for
multiple years. Much less would be much better.
- Ideally, it would be a US-based company, but this is not required.
- Additional features such as forwarding, filtering, no ads, ability
to send large messages, etc. would all be nice but are not necessarily
required
- I don?t need the ability to have a webpage at www.firstname.lastname.name
If I understand things correctly, I also need the new "host" to
support "transfers" because I already have another "registrar" due to
the $95. Important question (#2): is my terminology and understanding
correct?
Another question (#3): when I transfer the hosting to the new host, do
I lose the time that is left over from the $20 hosting by Network
Solutions? Or does it get added on by the new host?
Anyway, as I said at the beginning I am looking for a short list of
companies that will satisfy my requirements. Independent reviews of
these hosting services are not required in your answer, but would be
helpful.
As an example, one place that seems close to what I want is:
http://www.personalnames.com/
except that they don?t currently support transfers.
Thank you! I will be glad to give thorough clarification on any part
of my question, and may consider changing my hosting requirements if
you can give me a reason that I should do so. |
